A Matter of Honor

by

Bev Freed

Daedalus lifted his face to the
rain.It fell chilled against his
skin in a night that hung dark and quiet.Above him, clouds rolled low and gray.Beside him, Jesse stood still, his hands
at his side.Across from him,
Garrett and Roman stood slump-shouldered, their eyes downcast.Below him, Julian finally lay at rest,
near his beloved Evelyn.

The grave yawned open, grass
fringing its edges with raindrops falling like tears into the earth.At its head, the gravestone spoke of a
life never lived:

Julian Luna

Born 1830

Died 1899

The grave had waited for over 100
years.

Close by, another headstone
sweetly spoke a love so profound that its loss meant a dozen lifetimes of
sorrow.

Evelyn Luna

Born 1832

Died 1856

Died In Childbirth

Loved By Her Husband

More Than His Own Life

May She Rest In

Peace

Loss came hard and heavy in 1856.Julian Luna lost more than his
wife.He lost his reason for life,
and so he gave it up to Archon, taking on a future as Kindred, powerful,
ageless, but not invincible and never free of the humanity that had once been
his.

Julian Luna, Prince of the
City.May He Finally Rest In
Peace.

No one yet moved to cast the first
clump of soggy soil upon the casket.

Himself a drenched figure in a
brown cloak, Daedalus felt everyone around him.

Jesse Corrigan, Julian's
driver,stood tall and still in his
black mackintosh with the rain pressing his dark hair against his scalp, his
long face gray and sodden with the night and the moment.

There was Roman Lochak, a man with
emotional ties to the Luna family.His great-grandfather and namesake had tended the birth of Julian's son,
had shared the moment when Evelyn died.Not long ago, Roman had found his way to San Francisco, a young physician
without a hope against a disease that ravaged his body.His name made its way to Archon who
presented him to Julian, at last bringing an enduring ache full-circle.And it was Archon who gave Roman a
Kindred life in his human death.True to The Masquerade, working among the humans as if he were one, Roman
continued his life-healing skills, grateful to practice an art that had drawn
the names of Lochak and Luna together at one short point in history, and again,
many lifetimes later.Daedalus knew
it was proper that the man be here.

Slight in stature, slight in
frame, and very blonde, much like his namesake, Dr. Roman Lochak shed tears that
mixed with the rain, staining his cheeks a watery red.

Beside Roman, Garrett glanced from
the headstone to the casket then up to Daedalus.Garrett was one of Julian's, the last
childe of a prince.He had come to
the Kindred through Lillie who had watched him jogging the neighborhood around
The Haven night after night and had taken a typical Toreador interest in him --
lustful, irresistible, and fleeting.Although merely tolerant of Lillie's latest romantic indulgence, Julian
eventually found the youth to be warm, yet lonely, and took it upon himself to
Embrace him so his passions and talents would endure.For Garrett had both passion and talent
in wild abundance.Daedalus enjoyed
Garrett's company; it was Garrett's gift for painting that drew Daedalus to him
and he to Daedalus.Both had
uncanny talent for bringing their thoughts to life on canvas.

Daedalus glanced to the young man
with the fine face and sturdy form that had attracted the attention of the
Toreador Primogen and surely ensured his future as Kindred.But the dark olive skin and glossy black
hair were drab.His full smiling
lips were flat, without accent.His
dark eyes were veiled behind his sorrow.

His own skin pale as parchment,
Daedalus too lowered his eyes, feeling the rain run in tracks across his bare
scalp, along the lines of his long ears.He felt the night's damp seep into his cloak, his clothing, his
body.After a pause, he stepped to
the shovel, grasped it, scooped the soil, and scattered earth into the
grave.One by one, the others
followed.Jesse, the personal
attendant and driver.Roman, the
friend brought out of history.Garrett, the artist and companion.Daedalus, the trusted confidant.

As Garrett and Roman sealed the
grave, Jesse drew Daedalus aside."We can see to Sonny some other night, when it is not raining."

Daedalus shook his head."No, it is fitting that we see to Sonny
tonight.He and his Sire lost their
lives on the same night.We set
them to rest on the same night.I
believe that nature is weeping with us."

Jesse nodded."I'll bring the car around."With that, he disappeared into the
curtain of rain.

It was on such a night that they
laid Archon to rest, here in the same cemetery, in a grave close by.Daedalus stepped along the rows to find
it, and when he did, he stooped, touching the sodden grass gently.

"He is here, Archon," Daedalus
murmured."We have brought Julian
back to Evelyn and back to you."He
paused, dropped his eyes, and held his rage, his sorrow.Either or both were at the edge of his
restraint."Sonny, too, was
slain.Julian was always so proud
of Sonny, trusting him so, but something went wrong, Archon.They argued, and I believe that their
distress over the argument distracted them for the second it took to end their
lives."

Daedalus thought about the night
Sonny Toussaint and his Prince argued, how he heard their raised voices even in
his chambers below the mansion, with Julian repeatedly telling Sonny "No" to
some announcement, some question, some statement.Was the "No" an order?Was it an answer?Was it a pronouncement of denial?As a police detective, had Sonny
discovered something, or as one of Julian's own, had he brazenly challenged his
Sire on some matter?Daedalus
wondered if anyone would ever learn what had fueled such disagreement.

"Lillie had to flee," he continued
speaking to Archon in his grave."It was Julian's wish that she take the human Frank Kohanek to
safety.I have not heard from them,
but I have heard that they are safe.As are Cash and Sasha.They,
too, fled the city."Daedalus then
sighed."The city is not as it was
when you were prince, Archon, and certainly not when Julian was prince.Cameron killed you as payment for your
crime against his clan, but he killed both Sonny and Julian without
provocation.He longs to be named
prince, but -- "And Daedalus dared
a dark laugh." -- his night of
slaughter left the city without Primogens to consolidate his power!Only I am left.Only the Nosferatu have their
Primogen.Ah, I know what you're
thinking, Archon, you're thinking that the Brujah also have their Primogen in
Cameron.True, but although he
wants to be prince, he hesitates to step down as the Brujah Primogen.He fears that the other clans will not
support him as prince, and that he will have no position at all if he
relinquishes his power as the Brujah leader.Even his own clan tires of his
waffling.He is not in an enviable
position.The other clans are
taking their time choosing new leaders.The Toreador hope that Lillie will return as their Primogen.The Gangrels believe that Cash will
return as theirs.Your Ventrue are
also leaderless with the loss of Sonny."

Daedalus then felt a shadow fill
him, a shadow of revenge."We may
have lost our Prince, but I still remain the Prince's Enforcer.Cameron will pay for his deeds,
Archon.Not soon.But it will be done."

"Daedalus."

Daedalus turned to the voice.It was Garrett.

"Jesse sent me to fetch you."

"Thank you."Daedalus then stood and followed Garrett
back to the car, back past the grave of Julian Luna.With one final glance to the muddy
mound, he whispered, "It will be done."

#

The drive back to Highway 1 and
the Pacific coast was fixed in silence, the kind of silence that ran rampant
with words yet stalled in utter quiet.The dark of night held strong as they turned up the coast.This night could have lasted forever,
stretching along the rocks, hovering over the ocean, stealing color
everywhere.

When at last Jesse pulled the car
to the side of the road, Daedalus reached to the cedar box between his
feet.The sounds of wiper blades
slapping across the windshield added a pulse to the steady rain.Then the engine fell quiet.The blades ceased their pacing.Only the rain continued until Jesse
opened the driver door and the ignition key chime softly pinged.Stepping to the rear of the car, Jesse
opened the door and helped Daedalus out.With the rush of the ocean rising from below, Daedalus felt a rush of
life coursing through his veins.Life had crawled from the oceans.Sonny would now return.

It had been an easy task to
retrieve Sonny's body from the morgue; Daedalus had his ways of moving about the
city undetected, entering buildings, rooms, and private chambers almost at
will.The hard part of the task was
knowing that it came from his dying Prince.Julian's last concerns had been for
others, for The Masquerade.Daedalus had retrieved Stevie Ray's body from the same morgue a few years
before, but not without succumbing to the hunger.Daedalus fed so rarely.Although the coroner hadn't died, he had
indeed been left traumatized and drained.The hunger had been strong that night, but on the night that he purloined
Sonny away, Daedalus prepared for the hunger.There was nothing anyone would ever find
that would lead to the person who snatched the police detective's body from the
police themselves.Nothing would
even hint that someone else had been there.All the evidence would say that Sonny
Toussaint simply disappeared.

Daedalus carried him now.

Slowly, the four mourners stepped
along the escarpment that dropped away into the thundering surf.They edged down the slope, and upon
reaching the bluff, formed a semi-circle at the edge.There was a muffled sound of cloth on
wood as Daedalus opened the box and removed a small silver urn.Garrett took the box from him.Jesse removed the urn lid.Roman stood silent as Daedalus paused a
moment, holding the urn out to the sea.Then, he flung the ashes over the edge, and as if it had been waiting for
this moment, a slight wind arose to scatter Sonny across the frothy ocean.

These were the creatures who saw
Sonny to his final rest.

#

The newspaper reported that a
local nightclub had been the target of organized crime, that the owner Lillie
Langtry was missing, that the body of the police detective found murdered inside
the club had disappeared from the morgue, and that witnesses gave various
accounts of seeing a mortally wounded man driven away from the nightclub.There was no mention of Julian
Luna.There was no mention of any
crime syndicate that may be responsible.There was, however, every indication that the assault on the club was not
as straightforward as it sounded.

Daedalus glanced to the byline:
Caitlin Byrne.

Julian had been attracted to
Caitlin.He had bought the
newspaper so he could be close to her, but she was human; he was Kindred.The relationship would lead only to
tragedy.It nearly cost Julian his
life back in Manzanita Springs when he had been foolish enough to allow Caitlin
to take him away on a "mystery" weekend.Of all places, she took him to Manzanita Springs, to the winery where, as
Archon's Enforcer, Julian Luna had slaughtered the Brujah in the Sonoma County
village.The remaining Brujah were
there to take revenge.

Julian had indeed taken foolish
risks to be near Caitlin.Archon
knew it.Daedalus knew it.Cyrus knew it.Cameron knew it.Julian knew it, but only after Manzanita
Springs did he accept it.

###

"Of course I'm not threatening
you, Julian.I'm just letting you
know that your dalliance with this human can have no happy ending."Cyrus then set his hands on the table in
Julian's study and watched the San Francisco Prince.

Cyrus was the Prince of Los
Angeles.He was Brujah.He had sired Eddie Fiori, the Brujah
Primogen who had given Julian so much trouble, but Cyrus was no Eddie.He knew how to negotiate, and although
he usually weighed his decisions in favor of his Brujah, he understood perfectly
that the relationship of Julian and the human Caitlin would end in disaster and
impact Kindred of all the clans.

"I agree with the Prince of Los
Angeles," Daedalus said.

The three of them exchanged
awkward glances.They had agreed to
come together privately, without notifying the other clans.In fact, Julian had sent Cash and Jesse
out on errands.Lillie was at her
club The Haven.No one was about
the mansion.Cyrus had asked to
visit San Francisco so he could discuss the Brujah Primogen Cameron in
confidence with Julian, but somehow, the conversation evolved into an argument
on how Julian jeopardized his control on the Kindred in his city.Perhaps the two issues were very much
related.

A long sigh broke the
silence.It came from Julian.Leaning back in his chair, the prince
passed a hand through his dark hair, letting it linger at the back of his neck,
as if he dwelled on a problem that commanded all his concentration.When at last he set his hands before
him, he gave his attention to Cyrus then Daedalus then dropped his gaze back to
his hands.His dark eyes looked sad
but resigned to the fact that both his companions were right.

"Cameron is Brujah, true," Cyrus
continued, "but he has an agenda that he denies each time I ask why he is so
focused on you, Julian.He can't
let you go.And if he can't hurt
you, he will hurt someone you love, and anyone you love will become of great
interest to Cameron.By your
relationship with this human, you direct attention to her.Miss Byrne is not Kindred.She would not be able to understand the
approaching danger.She could never
prepare and combat it, not as a Kindred could." Cyrus waited a moment to let his
words soak in."What are your
plans?Do you marry her?" he asked
as a challenge."What do you
explain about your true family?Do
you Embrace her?"

Julian's eyes flew to Cyrus."Caitlin must never be Embraced," he
warned.

"That may be something you cannot
prevent.She is ideal as a means to
apply pressure on you."Cyrus
paused."And as painful as it may
be to recall, there is the incident with Sasha, when the San Francisco Brujah
Embraced her against will and without your consent."

Julian's eyes flashed silver for a
racing heartbeat, then the color returned.

"See?" Cyrus pressed."Even the mere mention of that tragedy
can cause you to frenzy."

"Why do you have such concern?"
Julian asked.

"Business."Cyrus shrugged."I have some friends who have agencies
in LA that are looking for talent.Lillie's clubs are a hotbed of talent.You have several companies that you
probably forgot about.They are
producing some very innovative architectural designs that I would like to adopt
for some of my current real estate endeavors.If San Francisco is disrupted, my
friends lose money."Cyrus then
smiled.

Julian smiled back."Friends?"

Cyrus shrugged."I have my interests, too."

"I'm sure you do, and there's also
Cameron," Julian stated flatly."He
could upset your plans if he uses a wedge named 'Caitlin Byrne'."

Cyrus tilted his head to one
side."It's for her own good,
Julian."

"And yours," Julian added.

"Motive notwithstanding," Daedalus
interrupted, "Cyrus is right that you give an advantage to Cameron by carrying
on this relationship.He will
discover a way to exploit your weakness."

"And by weakness, you mean
Caitlin," Julian fired back.

Daedalus nodded.

Once again, the room settled into
a prickly silence.

Julian finally spoke."Daedalus, I trust you with everything I
possess, even my life.You have
been the truest counsel.Yet, you
align against me with a Brujah Prince who admits to self-serving motives."

"Not against you," Daedalus
said."For you, in the truest
sense.Even Archon advised you
against the relationship, stressing that it endangered The Masquerade."

There fell another pause."Very well," Julian uttered."I will give up Caitlin."

###

Having finished reading Caitlin's
article, Daedalus folded the newspaper and set it on a small table next to his
chair.He had a strong desire for
humans and cared about them, but he didn't like humanity's encroachment into the
peace of his chambers.This article
was only the beginning.

Under the low ceiling of the
subterranean room, soft lamplight cast shadows deep into the recesses within the
corners and behind the tables and cabinets that stood scattered about.He sat back into his chair, sinking into
its tucks and folds and its deep feather cushioning.Setting his elbows on the great rounded
arms, he tented his fingers before his face, staring into the nothing beyond the
dark walls decorated with paintings of his own hand, some of them going back
many lifetimes.One of them in
particular was his favorite -- the portrait of a little boy.He looked to it now, wondering in what
manner the young boy's life had unfolded.

Daedalus remembered how he had
disobeyed his Prince -- not once, but twice -- and had given the little human
boy shelter in his chambers.Julian
had ordered him to return the boy to the hospital, even though the child would
languish and die there, stating that the boy was the affair of the humans.But Daedalus knew that the humans had
cast the boy aside, having given up on his short life.He could not bear to see the child be
allowed to waste away.In the end,
he obeyed Julian and returned the boy to the hospital, although not without
using his alchemy arts to break the boy's fate.

Daedalus had made these chambers
home long before Julian assumed ownership of the mansion that stood over
them.The mansion had been
Archon's.Before that, the house
had been owned by an ancient Nosferatu named Davood who purchased it from the
land baron who built it with his timber fortune, then lost everything
overnight.History said that the
chambers had always been there, had always known the Nosferatu.There was a tale that Davood had helped
the human earn his fortune, then undermined it when the industrialist failed to
honor a promise.

The chambers now belonged to
Daedalus.He now owned the great
mansion that had been Julian's home.Julian had given it to him through a blind of companies.

But the house had also been
Lillie's home.Lillie was
missing.The human police would
want access to her rooms for evidence, for anything that might point them to
finding her, to finding Julian.There was no Sonny to deflect such intrusion.Although a Ventrue judge had denied
search warrant requests, Jesse expressed concern that the time might come when
they would have to allow the San Francisco police onto the mansion grounds.

Daedalus was most uncomfortable
when humans came onto the grounds, and when Julian began his relationship with
Caitlin, humans were often on the grounds, inside the mansion, coming to
Julian's home for meetings related to the newspaper Julian had purchased.At such times, Daedalus sequestered
himself deep within his chambers, but after the night that Julian promised to
give Caitlin up, Daedalus moved like a shadow within the mansion, a silent,
unseen witness to those meetings.It was not an honorable thing to do, but he did it, nonetheless.

###

Julian stepped around the long
conference table, his reflection gliding along the high gloss of its
surface.He addressed each editors
and each manager in turn, making clear his displeasure with the slant of some of
the stories, especially the ones that played on the nature of the crimes they
reported.He was particularly hard
on Caitlin.

When he finally closed the
meeting, he asked her to remain behind and silently watched everyone else file
out..

When they were once again alone,
Caitlin turned to him."That was
harsh, Julian."

"It had to be done."

"Have I displeased you?"She titled her head with her question,
her flaxen hair catching the soft room light, spilling over her shoulders like a
fall of gold.Her brown eyes
followed him as he moved to the other side of the table, where he stopped behind
a chair, making no move to sit down.

His hands were behind his
back.His feet were planted
apart.In his dark suit, he towered
over the chair.He towered over the
table. He towered over her question."I thought I made my concerns very clear," he replied, his voice low and
even.

"I'm talking about me,
personally.You haven't
phoned.We see each other only at
the office or here.I asked you a
month ago why you stopped coming around."

"And I said that I had matters to
attend to."

"For a month?"

"Caitlin, I have many matters that
do not concern you."

She turned her head and
swallowed."Very well, what is the
matter that concerns me this evening, the one so important that you would ask me
to remain?"

"I've moved the paper into a
holding company for better management.I will no longer play a role in any day-to-day operations."

"You won't even be in the
office?"Her brows furrowed.Distress swept over her face.

"For a while, during the transition.I have a CEO at the holding company who
will take over for me."Julian then
smiled warmly."You two should get
on well.You're both ambitious,
with an eye for detail, driven, professional, precise, and hard-working.In fact, I've arranged a light dinner
party for everyone here at the end of next week."

"Business?"

"Business."

Caitlin then rose, collected her
briefcase, and stood away from the table."Is there something I should prepare?"

"I will let Michael make that
decision."

"Michael?"

"Michael Howard.Yes.He has some ideas, I am sure."

Caitlin nodded."Very well.Will you see me out?"

At that moment, Jesse appeared and
Julian gestured to him."Jesse will
see you out."

###

The break with Caitlin had been much easier than he
had expected, at least that's what Julian told Daedalus shortly before the
dinner party.Perhaps the ending of
his affair with the human had been eased by Lillie.Perhaps Daedalus might have had
something to do with that.He
confided in Lillie that Julian was bout to terminate his affair with Caitlin,
and he suggested that it was a good opportunity to establish herself with Julian
once again, and so she did.

Sitting in his chair, alone in his chambers, Daedalus
missed Lillie. He had heard she was safe.He had heard that the human Frank Kohanek performed well protecting
her.Daedalus let go a low
laugh.Protecting her.Julian might have found that an
interesting turn of events:A human
police detective investigates Julian Luna; Julian Luna makes a promise to
protect the human detective from Kindred; Julian Luna orders his lover to
protect the human; the human protects his Kindred lover.

Daedalus had no doubt that Lillie was letting it
happen.He also wondered how long
her interest in the human would last.She was not known for her longevity when it came to lovers.Julian himself had been in and out of
her graces for nearly a century.With them, it had always been a mutual bout of take-and-take.In that way, Daedalus supposed that they
shared.However, during their final
interlude together, Lillie and Julian appeared to have moved closer to a
contented union.

Julian had always been taken with Lillie.After all, she was Toreador, the clan of
sensuality, pleasure, art, and charm.But she was also a classic in terms of beauty.Yes, Daedalus missed her, how she lent
the mansion such elegance by living here, even when she and Julian were at odds
with one another.

Daedalus recalled her tale of how she brought a vase
of roses into a room where Julian and Caitlin were meeting on some newspaper
matter.Lillie breezed in to
Caitlin's surprise, and to the woman's question about her presence in Julian's
mansion, Lillie simply replied, "I live here."For his own response, Julian had only a
sheepish smile.

The incident was much like the dinner party.

###

From within his chambers, Daedalus heard the
limousines arrive with Caitlin Byrne and Michael Howard.He was ready for them.

Garrett and he were working together on a painting
for The Haven, a full size portrait of a young man singing to an unseen
audience.It was a stylized
painting with great swaths of colors -- dark blue, orange, purple -- giving the
figure motion, even a trace of music unleashed by the vibrancy.The eyes were closed.The lips formed words that caressed the
canvas.His hands cupped the
microphone, leaning into it like a lover.Lillie would like it.

After one long look at the work, Daedalus turned to
his colleague."I shall be gone but
for a short while.Can you
continue?"

Garrett nodded."Where are you going?"

With only an empty reply, the Nosferatu slipped up
the plank stairs and out into the night.Crawling along the mansion walls, he shimmied along to the formal dining
room.Settling onto the window
ledge making himself dark against the night, he watched Lillie fuss around the
table with two Gangrel maids Jesse had brought in for the occasion.Leaves had been removed from the table
at the far end of the large room to give the setting some intimacy and take the
edge off the business reason for the occasion.A white cloth draped it.A floral arrangement with a silver
candelabra graced the center of the table.A fireplace with a sitting group filled the end near the door.Upon one long wall was a hand-painted
mural, a pastoral scene in sepia, with horses, hunters, and the fox.A mirrored sideboard dominated the
opposite wall.Beside it stood a
large potted palm, and on the other side was the buffet.

The room was perfect.It was ready, and Julian would not be
pleased that Daedalus had made himself a witness to its events this night.Closing out the world, Daedalus melted
like a mist against the glass, latching onto every sound, every motion within
the room.

"Thank you," Lillie said to the two maids."Please see that each setting has fresh
butter, then we should be ready."

Jesse entered looking darkly elegant in a suit that
added height to his long lean lines.He motioned with a white-gloved hand, sending the two young girls back
through the butler's pantry into the kitchen."They've arrived," he announced.

Lillie dashed to the mirror behind the buffet and
tested her beauty one last time, playing with her smile, pressing her dark red
lips together, then spreading them with an inviting tease.Patting her upswept hair, she pressed a
few dark strands back into place.She then adjusted the delicate straps on her black-beaded gown and cupped
her ivory breasts under the fine fabric, giving her already exquisite shape a
bit of confidence.

The gown was one of Julian's favorites, and Lillie's
excitement at receiving it several weeks ago had made a lasting impression on
Daedalus..Julian had commissioned
the gown especially for Lillie, based on a sketch he had given the haut couture
designer Jae Chong, a Toreador who hid behind a professional name Daedalus could
not remember.He didn't care.This so-called "fashion" was part of the
human world.Jae Chong was part of
the Kindred world.That was how he
knew her, and that was all that mattered.

He watched Lillie now, admiring her for the classic
beauty she was.When she finished
her ministrations, there came a soft sound at the door.She glided toward the fireplace just as
Jesse ushered Julian and his guests within.

Words did not matter.Daedalus heard volumes in Caitlin's eyes
as they caught sight of Lillie, her elegance and grace, as they followed Julian
who moved comfortably to Lillie's side.He touched her cheek lightly with his lips and his arm lingered at her
waist before he stepped away and presented his guests.

Daedalus didn't need ears to understand the
dialogue.Words were of no
import.He learned much with each
tip of the head, each casual wave of a hand in conversation, each smile, and
each time a smile dropped away.Lillie acknowledged Caitlin as an old acquaintance.She beamed when Julian presented Michael
Howard.

The man wasn't at all what Daedalus had
expected.For one thing, Michael
Howard was young for a CEO, very young, perhaps in his mid- thirties.And he was attractive in a sunny way
that so many Californians had just by their nature.His skin glowed with a warm beige.His thick sandy hair dropped arrogantly
over his forehead, to one side, with a delicate curl against his collar.Like Julian, he had dressed in a dark
suit, but unlike Julian, he had not the breadth of shoulders, the commanding
height.Although crisp and sharp,
the suit was merely apparel on Michael Howard.

Engaged in a light conversation with the man, Julian
shifted his posture to one side, but there was nothing casual about his
demeanor.He commanded the room
simply by being there.

Daedalus glanced to the fireplace where Lillie had
led Caitlin and settled her onto the eagle-backed sofa off to one side of the
hearth.Caitlin sat stiffly,
lowering herself slowly, moving to the edge of the seat, as if she would bolt at
any second.Although he was sure
that Lillie read the discomfort perfectly, Daedalus watched her ease herself
onto the sofa beside Caitlin and invite the woman to a tray of mints on the low
table before them.Caitlin merely
stared, attempted a smile then turned her attention to the empty fireplace.

At that point, Julian brought Michael to the chairs
opposite the sofa and gestured to the sideboard where a decanter of sherry and
several crystal cordials stood ready.Michael nodded.Julian
poured two glasses, asked Lillie and Caitlin if they would care for some as
well.Lillie smiled.Caitlin sank deeper into herself.

Throughout the evening, Daedalus played witness to
the dynamics within the room, noticing how they changed, how Lillie had expertly
maneuvered the dinner, the conversation, the after-dinner moments by the
fireplace.He watched how she
expertly entwined Julian back into her intimacies.He was especially impressed with how
Lillie the hostess had incited an attraction between Caitlin Byrne and Michael
Howard.By evening's end, the two
were on the sofa drawing into one another, while Julian sat across from them,
with Lillie perched delicately on the arm of his chair, her arm draped along the
back.Lillie quietly closed the
evening by excusing herself for upstairs.Her lips touched Julian's temple, lingering for a moment while she
whispered something into his ear.Rising from the chair, she nodded farewell to her guests and let her hand
dangle within Julian's.Slowly, she
moved away, letting her hand linger in his until only their fingertips
touched.When their flesh parted
and his arm drifted back to the chair arm, his eyes lingered on her, a smile
warming his face.

Julian was Lillie's once again.

###

Sitting now in the dull light of his chamber,
Daedalus marked that evening as the moment when he let go his concerns for
Julian's intrigue with the human woman.He understood the lure that humans often unknowingly placed on
Kindred.His own heart was often
burdened by the sorrows and distresses of individual humans who bore that look
of isolation, of loneliness, of quiet loss of self.

There was a sound within his chambers.He was not alone.

"Camilla," he spoke as a shadow took form, moving
closer to his chair, moving in on his private reflections.

The Nosferatu replied quietly, "You've been dwelling
on the past again."She tilted her
head to one side, its bare scalp catching the delicate lamplight.With warmth for her Primogen, she then
smiled, letting her lips draw back from her teeth, baring the points ever so
slightly.

"There is so much of it," he responded."At what point is it vaster than the
future?"

Moving closer, Camilla came full into the chamber,
the hem of her dark dress rustling along the carpet.She sat across from him, drawing her
skirt around her knees.There was a
glow to her face that Daedalus recognized.

"You've been to see her again," he remarked.

Camilla beamed."I have."

"How is Caitlin?"

"Happy."

"Still?"

"She has such reason."

"The boy is nearly two, is he not?"

"Twenty-two months, as the humans would say, being so
detailed at such an age."

Daedalus then shifted in his chair, switching one leg
over the other."And Michael?"

"Still the doting father.I suspect there will be many siblings
for this child!"

Daedalus lit the air with a light laugh."And you godmother to them all."

"I think the child knows I am present," Camilla
whispered.

"Indeed?"

She leaned forward, drawing herself closer to her
Primogen."I fly to the tree
outside the nursery and he moves his eyes to the window.He knows.He knows.Caitlin can carry him away from the
window, but his eyes linger on me in the night."

Daedalus laughed again."Are you sure you did not touch that
child in the womb?"

With a smile, Camilla pressed herself back into her
chair where she gave only an answer of silence.The air hung quiet for the longest time
as Daedalus allowed his attention to fall into his array of paintings.

Finally, he spoke, his gaze still intent on the
canvases."The Brujah Primogen
demands a Conclave of the Primogens."

"There are no other Primogens."

"He applies pressure that they choose new
leaders."

"It is time that they do.The city has been without a Prince for
nearly two weeks.Save the
Nosferatu, the clans have lost their leaders."

"I know," he sighed.

"Will the Gangrels choose Jesse?"

"I expect they will.Cameron will not be pleased with the
choice."

Camilla snorted."There is not much that pleases Cameron
except Cameron."

"He has yet to learn patience."

"The Toreador will choose whom?"

Daedalus turned to his companion."They expect Lillie to return, but that
will not happen any time soon.And
the Ventrue have given their support to Roman."

"I do not know him."

"He is connected to the Luna family by
happenstance."

"But is he a leader?"

"I do not know.Julian spent time with him on occasion, but nothing to any great
extent."Daedalus then turned to a
mantel clock on a shelf along one wall."Jesse will soon bring the morning newspaper to me."

Camilla smiled."Newspaper?You have taken
to reading about human events?"

"The events are Kindred events.The more I know what the humans know,
the better my decision."

"For what?"

"I do not know yet."

#

Caitlin had written another story on the recent
events around The Haven.The story
headline read:"Industrialist
Disappears.Another Jimmy
Hoffa?"

The morning paper article read:

What do
a nightclub owner and a powerful industrialist have in common?They were lovers.They both disappeared under mysterious
circumstances right after the brutal attack on the nightclub.They were both associated with
underworld elements."

Daedalus didn't read any further.The humans would be asking more
questions about Julian's mansion and its staff.

"The words disturb you," Camilla remarked.

"I expect the humans will want access to Julian's
study and house."

"Stop them."

Daedalus slumped."The issue will not go away."

"Conceal yourself.Come with the other Nosferatu and remain
neutral."

"I may be Nosferatu but having known and understood
Julian, I can never be neutral."

The door at the head of the stairs squeaked
open.Footfall on the plank steps
announced someone in a rush.

"Daedalus?"It was Jesse."Cameron has
called a Conclave."

"How can he?There are no Primogens."

Jesse moved between Daedalus and the single lamp lit
against the dark of the chamber.The corona played around his tall silhouette."He plans to appoint them."

"Where is this meeting and when?"

"At the warehouse.Eddie's old place along the docks.Tonight at 10:00 p.m."

"We should have burned that place when Lillie killed
Eddie the night he tried to take the Princehood after he thought the Assamite
he'd hire had killed Julian."

"Cameron is attempting the same."

"He will fail."

"Shall I drive you there?"

Daedalus rose."Yes, but get the Gangrels together as
soon as you can.Assemble them here
shortly after sundown.They are
going to appoint you Primogen."

Jesse pressed his fingers to his
chest.His head ducked a little.
The whites of his eyes widened."Me?You want them to
appoint me?You know that no one
can dictate to the Gangrels."

"You are the best qualified.You have access to resources here.Cash trusts you."

"What about the Toreador?"

"Contact Jae.As for the Ventrue, contact Dr.
Lochak.Ask them to assemble the
strongest among their clans here by 8:00 p.m.I want the Gangrels to have appointed
you Primogen by the time they assemble.With the Gangrels finally taking a step, the others will as well.We have stalled Cameron long
enough.Now, please see to
it."

Jesse nodded and stepped toward
the stairs.Then, mid-stride, he
paused.He turned back and
smiled."You sound like a
Prince."

#

Scattered like toys, cars and
motorcycles filled the mansion courtyard.Kindred milled about the gardens; they strolled along the bluff
overlooking the bay.Within the
mansion, the assembly had begun.

Daedalus stood behind a chair at
the side of the Conclave table.Roman Lochak sat across from him with two other Ventrue sire by
Archon.One was Arkady Ivanov, an
importer trading in eastern European goods.Archon had mentioned him several times
in connection with some special item Julian had wanted.Arkady was resourceful and wealthy with
solid connections around the world.He was also dark, tall, and solid, like Julian, with a fine face that
concealed thoughts well.

The other was Jonas Webster, a
stout black man with rich mahogany skin that glowed in the room light, with
thick black hair that hugged his scalp and flickered electric blue when he
turned his head.His chocolate eyes
studied each Kindred in the room.His full lips pressed tight as if holding back some word that might be
left best unsaid.Jonas had long
been Julian's eyes and ears in the courts.As a judge, he had been able to refuse various warrants that Frank
Kohanek had tried to obtain. He now kept the police from searching the
grounds.For a while, at
least.One judge could not stem a
tide that was destined to overtake all in its path.The judge had taken a great risk
visiting the Luna mansion.

Daedalus saw that the Venture were
represented well.

The Toreador were another
matter.Only one appeared, and it
was not Jae Chong.It was Dakota
Cole.Daedalus did not know
her.He watched her as she engaged
Jesse and another Gangrel in conversation.Her sandy hair spilled around her head and onto her shoulders in an
unruly cascade that flowed with every movement of her head back and forth
between the two Gangrels on either side of her.Her lips glowed peach, gently tinted and
glossy.Her eyes were green with an
abundance of lashes that drew attention.Her thick deep laugh added more allure to her exotic appearance.As did the swell of her breasts under
the gauzy white blouse that set off the dark blue of her suit.She toyed with a lapel now and then,
confidence glowing all through her.

With one last glance around the
table, Daedalus took stock of each Kindred present all along both sides of the
table.No one sat at its head.At last, Daedalus motioned his
hand.The room fell silent.Still standing, he said, "The Brujah
Primogen has been eager to see that the city has a new Prince."

A low buzz ran around the
table.In all the chaos, all clans
but the Nosferatu and Brujah had stalled his efforts, some by holding on to
their absent Primogens, some by refusing the pressure to chose, pressure that
comes from a mere Primogen and not a Prince.

"But he acts like he's Prince,"
Jonas Webster remarked.

"He believes he will take the
Princehood, yes."Daedalus then put
his hands behind his back and started a slow walk around the table."This night, the Gangrels have selected
a new Primogen.Jesse
Corrigan."

Eyes turned to Jesse.

"I continue to represent the
Nosferatu.The Ventrue and Toreador
must make their choices this very night, this very hour."He turned to Dakota Cole."Have the Toreador chosen you as
Primogen?"

She looked to the table then back
to Daedalus."No.I was told to be here and sit with the
other Toreador to make the decision."

"Because there are no others, you
may assume the position of Primogen for your clan."

She stood."But I don't want it.It belongs to Lillie"

Daedalus then growled, impatience
baring his teeth."Tonight, it is
yours.Lillie is not here.What you do with it tomorrow is up to
you, Toreador."As Dakota lowered
herself back into her chair, he turned to the Ventrue at the table."Do you need more time to make your
choice?"

Roman was the first to speak."I support Jonas Webster as
Primogen."

The judge immediately lifted his
hand."I have too high a profile
for such responsibility.I support
either Dr. Lochak or Mr. Ivanov."

Daedalus turned to the two
Ventrue."You have the hour to
choose."

"I support Arkady," Roman quickly
spoke up."I am a healer, not a
leader.Arkady has skill in
negotiation."

"Arkady?" Daedalus asked.

"I accept."

"It is done, then."

#

Three cars moved down the dark
street.At the street's end, the
wharf stretched out with the bay a flat plain of glittering ripples.The buildings stood silent, like dark
canyon walls.The street was dim
with a broken lamp on the corner and only the city glow to light the night.One by one, the cars parked along the
sidewalk outside the dock workers building.One by one, the doors opened with
drivers running to the rear doors to open them.One by one the Primogens stepped from
the cars and gathered at the tiny door to the building.They enclosed Daedalus.

The door opened, cutting the night
with a spear of light.Led into a
small hallway, the group climbed stairs to the second floor offices, where
Cameron awaited them.

Cameron was impeccable in manner
and dress.His brown hair was
neatly trimmed.His face,
clean-shaven.Medium in build, he
filled out his dark gray suit well.The suit itself had that tailored look, with no creases and a polished
sheen.But what struck people most
about Cameron were his eyes.They
had no distinct color, only character, and that character betrayed what went on
behind them.Cameron's eyes
possessed that sleepy look.Cameron
was anything but.His smile, too,
was deceptive.It lifted his
cheeks, giving them a boyish roundness.Still, the lips were flat and expressionless.

He sat at his wide desk.Its glass top was surprisingly
uncluttered, with only a vase of mixed flowers sitting at one corner.It was not a desk often used.He leaned into the desk, placing
his folded hands in the center.

"So," he said, his voice smooth
and low, clear with its mesmerizing softness, "the clans have decided upon their
leaders.Good."He drew out the word, then gesturing to
the seats at a conference table, he added, "Shall we begin?"

As his guests took their seats at
the table, Cameron rose from his desk and walked around to the table, where he
perched on its end, steadying himself with one foot on the floor..

Daedalus sat between Jesse and
Arkady.Dakota sat alone on the
other side.Cameron leaned toward
her.

"Our Toreador."He smiled."And she is a match for our
Lillie."

Dakota beamed.

Damn Toreador, Daedalus
mumbled mentally, wishing Lillie were present.She may have been vain and jealous, but
she was clever and recognized an obsequious remark when she heard it.

Cameron passed his attention to
the new Ventrue Primogen."Mr.
Ivanov.Perhaps we can do business
soon.I have need for a complete
redecoration on this office.It's
far too Spartan, very much like Eddie.I was thinking of something with an Old World flair.Can you be of assistance in that
regard?"

"I am sure I can, " Arkady
replied.

Daedalus looked for a warble in
Arkday's voice, a falter, anything that would suggest a weakness.There was none.In fact, there was an edge of
confidence.The Ventrue had chosen
well.

"When can you come by my office?"
Cameron asked.

"It would be more suitable for you
to come to mine.You can browse the
inventory and give me some guidance so that I might contact my overseas
representatives for the items you seek."

Good, Daedalus
thought.Avoid Cameron's domain
as much as possible.

The Brujah Primogen smiled with
his deceptive charm."And
Jesse.Jesse Corrigan."Cameron strolled behind the new Gangrel
Primogen."What can I say?You're Julian's man to the bone, to the
blood, even if you are…Gangrel."He
sneered the final word."Julian's
dead."Cameron then inhaled and
blurted a little oh.After a
pause, he continued."But you knew
that didn't you?His newspaper
doesn't know.The police don't
know.I bet his other corporations
don't know.They all think he's
just missing"Cameron then leaned
his chin over Jesse's shoulder.

Jesse made no move, not even a
flinch that the Brujah dared to encroach and come so near.

"But you know," Cameron finally
added.

Daedalus had had enough."Cameron.You brought us here under a threat to
choose Primogens for the clans that had lost theirs."

Cameron drew back and pressed one
hand against his chest."Did
I?"

"It is very clear that you did, so
please honor those who have come to meet you, and not belittle them."

"Very well, " the Brujah Primogen
said, strolling to the head of the table."The city needs a new Prince.We have already seen that the Ventrue from Archon to Julian weakened the
Kindred.They consorted with
humans.They endangered The
Masquerade.Julian couldn't even
control his Childe Alexandra Serres.She took a human lover -- this Frank Kohanek.She told him of Kindred, of The
Masquerade, and Julian allowed the human to live with this knowledge."

Arkady interrupted."These are old issues, Cameron."

"I would expect that from a
Venture: defending the status quo, no matter how decadent, so matter how it
endangered us."

"I agree with Arkady," Daedalus
added.

Cameron turned to the
Nosferatu."And you were the
Ventrue Prince's Enforcer.I would
expect the same from you."He then
turned on Jesse."And you,
Gangrel."His eyes swept the faces
at the table."Your all Julian's,
all except -- " He flung his attention to Dakota."-- except Ms Dakota Cole here.Are you your own woman, Ms Cole?Or do you see what is happening?Do you see the prejudice that the clans
have built?They blindly align with
the Venture even to the detriment of The Masquerade."

"Well, uh,"Dakota stammered."I never
thought of it that way.We
prospered under Julian, and .--"

Cameron slammed his hand on the
table."The Brujah did not
prosper!"His breathing
rasped.His nostrils flared.

Daedalus stood."I, for one, will not sit here and be
railed against."The instant he
caught Jesse following his lead, he flung the Gangrel an expression that ordered
him to remain seated and silent.

Cameron quickly quieted
himself.He tilted his head to one
side and raised one hand as if in apology."I take note that I am being unfair."

"Then get on with the reasons why
we should grant you the Princehood."Daedalus returned to his chair.

"Me?"Cameron let go a light laugh."You think I seek the Princehood?"

"We are not stupid," Daedalus
retorted."Do not insult us any
further.You seek the
Princehood.I vote nay."

"As do I," Jesse added.

"And me," said Arkady.

There was a pause before Dakota
responded."I vote nay, too."

The air went solid.In fact, it tightened around
everyone.No one breathed.No one moved, especially Cameron.A chair creaked as someone shifted
weight.

"Very well," Cameron finally
said."I stated that the city needs
a Prince.It does.Who shall it be?"

Daedalus answered."Tonight is not a good night for making
a decision of such import.I sense
extreme unease and even animosity."

"Then when will be a good night?"
Cameron sneered.

"Allow the new Primogens time with
their clans.A fortnight."

Cameron rolled his eyes."And how long is a fortnight?"

"Why don't we make it two weeks
instead?" Dakota suggested.

#

Jesse awoke Daedalus with the
morning newspaper.The story
headline read:

"Police
Lose Body From Morgue"

The story read:

"San
Francisco police admit that the body of Sonny Toussaint, the SFPD detective
found slain in a nightclub two weeks ago, has disappeared from the morgue.His partner Frank Kohanek has also
disappeared and is wanted for questioning, although he is not a suspect in the
theft.

"But
even more interesting is the fact that the two detectives were investigating
missing industrialist Julian Luna for connections to organized crime, and for
his own possible role as a crime boss.

"Did
detectives Kohanek and Toussaint find the evidence linking Julian Luna and the
mob?Did Luna's enemies destroy
every possible connection to him, including his lover Lillie Langtry, including
the detectives who were investigating him?The bigger question may be: What did the detectives uncover that set off
a firestorm of retaliation?

"This story has more twists than
a Hitchcock movie."

Once again, Daedalus felt the
police and investigators coming closer to the mansion grounds.Setting the paper on the table beside
his bed, he turned to Jesse."It is
time we examine Julian's study.We
must remove or destroy anything that endangers The Masquerade."

"I can go to Camilla if need
be."Daedalus then glanced around
the chamber, to the low raftered ceiling, to his paintings, to his furniture
that made a cozy spot within the subterranean room, to all the objects and
mementoes he had collected over the long years."Nosferatu have lived here since the
settlers first came to this region.It was merely a cavern at one time, but it has been civilized over the
decades.It has never known
humans."

"There is no reason why you cannot
return after the humans have left."

Daedalus nodded."I know."He then rose from the bed and shook out
his long white gown."It's time we
examined Julian's study."

#

Julian's study was a modest room
where a man could think, contemplate, and enjoy long moments of quiet.Its white walls brightened it from one
end to the other.A fireplace
graced one end and two stuffed chairs sat opposite one another across the
hearth.Tall book cases ran along
one long wall; a sideboard with brandy and glasses stood centered on the
other.Julian's desk sat in the
middle of the room.It was a large
desk, dark cherry with leather inlay and brass fittings.Two leather chairs faced it and Daedalus
recalls many moments with Julian in this room, with Julian behind his desk, with
Daedalus comfortable in one of the chairs facing him.

The room had not been entered
since that night.The final words
spoken here had been words of anger.It was here that Julian and Sonny had argued.

When Jesse opened the door, he
asked, "Would you like time alone?"

Daedalus shook his head."No.I may need your keen eye as we examine
the room.You may detect something
that I might think insignificant."He then glanced about."The
desk is quite a mess.Let's start
there."

They walked straight to the desk
then stopped.The room
chilled.The Nosferatu and the
Gangrel stared upon the desk.If
anything would have drawn inquisitive eyes to Kindred -- if anything would have
exposed The Masquerade, setting humans to hunt Kindred, it was what lay
scattered across the desktop.

Jesse gasped.

Daedalus growled.

Dozens of black and white
photographs spread out like a mosaic across the polished wood and the leather
blotter.

Jesse snatched one and pressed a
finger to it."It's a picture of
the Las Vegas Brujah Primogen."The
photograph showed a man standing next to a taxi cab.There were suitcases near his feet.

Disbelief creased Daedalus'
brow."What?When was he here?Julian would have known.I would have been informed."

Jesse peered closer at the
image."It's not San Francisco," he
said."Look."He pointed to the cab."It's Sky Cab.That's Los Angeles."

"Cyrus' city," Daedalus
responded.He then flipped through
the stack only to notice something written on the back of one photograph.It read: Boston Apr 27 #45.He looked at another, then another.Each had a city, date, and code written
on the back.Drawing one of the
photos closer, Daedalus growled again.

Jesse snatched more photos and
read the back of each."No.This one says it was taken in New
Orleans on April 28.Who is
it?"He handed the photo to
Daedalus.

"Jacques Dumont, the Brujah
Primogen in New Orleans."

"And this?It says it was taken in Toronto on April
3 #52."

Daedalus studied the picture."That's Jacques Dumont again, but I
don't know either the man or the woman.I suspect that they are Brujah as well.All of these photographs seem to be of
Brujah."

"Not all," Jesse mumbled staring
at a photograph that had been torn nearly in half.He presented it to Daedalus.On the opposite sides of the tear were
Cameron and Lillie.They were
talking to one another, oblivious of the camera.

Daedalus took a moment to examine
the picture, then he smiled."This
was taken last winter at The Haven.I remember the occasion.It
was February 12.She was
celebrating her death as noted by her biographers.She throws that party every year."

"Here's another of her.Alone.Dated April 8."

"Does it have a number on the
back?"

Jesse flipped the photograph
over."Yes."

It was Daedalus' turn to
mumble."Then that photograph is
part of the puzzle."

"What are these numbers?A sequence?A reference?"

Daedalus shrugged."Excellent guesses.My question is: Why would Julian have
all these photographs?"He panned
the mess across the desk."How did
Julian get them?"

"Do you think he knew Brujah
hostilities were about to break out?"

"No.He would have told me.He would have warned Cash.He would have called Cameron in and
questioned him."

Jesse shuffled through the
glossies."Paris," he stated."Stuttgart.Kansas City."He flipped his attention to
Daedalus."They're from all over
the globe.And except for Lillie,
they all appear to be Brujah, if you've identified most of what we've seen as
Brujah."

Daedalus sank into the chair in
front of Julian's great desk."Why
would Julian keep this from me?"

Jesse then went to the desk and
opened the drawers."He has to have
some kind of notes on these.He
couldn't possibly keep track or even make sense of it."

"Maybe he was waiting for
something," Daedalus mumbled more to himself than to share a thought.

Meanwhile, Jesse rifled through
the drawers, banging wood against wood, sifting through papers and pens and
clips and other desk paraphernalia.

"Why would he share all this with
Sonny and not with me?" Daedalus continued."The two of them were in here
together.Sonny must have seen what
Julian had on his desk."

"Nothing," Jesse sighed, leaning
back in Julian's chair.He then
turned his attention to a large landscape on the wall over the sideboard."Maybe there's something in the
safe."

Daedalus walked to the painting
and removed it from the wall.After
opening the wall safe, he rummaged through the contents, finding only
certificates, some cash, and a small silver box, flecked with tarnish and
age.He held the box in one hand
and sighed.A great wave of regret
passed over him, maybe even shame.

Jesse peered over his
shoulder."What is it?"

"Evelyn's locket and a lock of her
hair."

"Oh god, Daedalus," Jesse
said."We should have buried that
with him."

Daedalus sighed, "Perhaps, but I
forgot about this for a reason, I suppose.It belongs to Sasha now."

"Sasha doesn't have a sentimental
bone in her body."

"She will…someday."Daedalus returned the box to the
safe."There's nothing in the safe
either."

Jesse then examined the sideboard,
pulling out drawers, opening the small cabinets on either end, finding only
cloths, napkins, corkscrews, and other utensils.

Daedalus then saw it -- an
upturned potted plant in the corner.Soil dotted the floor.The
thick green leaves splayed out like a fan against the edge of the rug.Rushing to the corner, he knew he would
find the one something that could help him make sense of what lay scattered over
Julian's desk.And there it was --
a small black notebook thrown on the floor, its pages crumpled under its bent
spine.Picking the notebook up, he
immediately started flipping through the pages."It's Sonny's," he whispered.Then he stared at Jesse."This notebook is Sonny's."He threw his gaze to Julian's desk.
"The photographs are Sonny's, not
Julian's."

"Why would Julian ask Sonny to do
all this?"

"Perhaps he didn't."

"Sonny did all this on his
own?"

"It is not something that Julian
would have undertaken without consulting me."Daedalus sank deeper into his thoughts,
finally coming to some notion of why Sonny and Julian argued.He turned to Jesse."It was not an honorable thing that
Sonny did.It was something that
would have angered Julian greatly that he was not consulted or advised.Look -- the scatter of photographs on
the desk.The torn picture of
Lillie.The notebook flung into a
corner.Julian was angry."

"Where did Sonny get them?"

Daedalus ran his fingers over the
hand-written notes inside the notebook."We'll find our answers in here.Look --"He jabbed his
finger to a page entry."A
reference number.See?I assume one of those photographs refers
to the note here."

"I have an idea."Jesse dashed to Julian's desk and
collected all the photographs."These have to tie to that notebook.I'll put them in order by reference
number.We'll see what they match
in the notebook."

Daedalus flipped a few more pages
then remarked, "No, put them in date order.We can follow the notebook.It is organized by date with multiple
notes on some of the dates.It
appears that Sonny entered the notes to explain some photograph taken on that
date."

The stack of photos in hand, Jesse
rushed to the other end of the room to the low table between the chairs in front
of the fireplace.Daedalus then
dragged another low table from the wall and added it to the other.Together, the two Primogens turned the
photos face down and sorted them by date.When finally done, they went through them, matching Sonny's notes.

"The first one is of Cameron
coming out of The Haven," Jesse said."There's nothing remarkable about that.The date says January 4 in San
Francisco.The number is 2," Jesse
remarked."What's in the
notebook?"

"It says that Cameron left The
Haven after closing."

The two exchanged a glance."After closing," Daedalus repeated."I'd say that was a little
remarkable.I wonder what Julian
would have had to say."

Jesse looked long and hard at the
next photograph.Finally, he spoke,
"It's Cyrus with Cameron."He
flipped the photo over and read: "Santa Monica, Jan 13. #14."He snapped his attention to
Daedalus."Cameron left San
Francisco and went to LA."

Daedalus scanned the
notebook."Sonny writes that
Cameron and Cyrus met alone in Santa Monica.They did not go to Cyrus's house or
offices in LA.He goes on to say
that Cameron met Cyrus at an auction house and that Cliff said they
argued."

"Who's Cliff?" Jesse asked.

"Must be someone Sonny asked to
watch Cyrus in LA."

"Or maybe it was Cameron he had
under surveillance."

Daedalus nodded."Yes, that makes more sense.Cameron never hid the fact that he hated
Sonny for Sonny's role in deceiving Eddie Fiori.Sonny's pretense gave Eddie the
confidence to make grave errors in judgment, errors that cost him his life.I think Sonny knew Cameron had gone to
LA and had him followed."

"Well, maybe that's what got Sonny
started.He followed Cameron
around.I bet he started tailing
Cameron then found that Cameron was meeting with the Prince of LA.Then maybe his investigator in LA
noticed that other Brujah Primogens started showing up and reported it to Sonny
just in case Sonny might be interested."

"That is certainly plausible.Sonny might have been curious and
cautious enough to ask that other Ventrue in various cities pay close attention
to the local Brujah Primogens."

Jesse shoved another photograph
over to Daedalus."OK.Let's go through these.Here's the one from Paris.The date is March 8 and the number is
24.Is there an entry for it in the
notebook?"

Jesse then turned over another
photo, also marked as taken in LA." Do you know the men waiting outside the cab?"

Daedalus leaned over and studied
it.His brows creased."The Brujah Primogen from New York with
the Boston Primogen.Why would they
come all the way to LA?"

"LA got very busy as far as
Kindred were concerned.I wonder if
Sonny had any real suspicions of something going down or was just fishing.I mean look -- Cameron goes to LA out of
the blue, and argues with Cyrus, then all these other Brujah show up in LA, and
within a month, Brujah are jamming together all over the world."

"Interesting that you should
speculate," Daedalus remarked flipping through the notebook again."It appears that Sonny back-dated his
notes for January."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think he started keeping
notes until later.Look"Daedalus flipped ahead in the
notebook."The notes are much more
detailed after February.The
activity accelerates in March and April."

"What did Sonny know?"

"I think he was trying to figure
out what he had."Daedalus raised
his hand for silence and collected his thoughts."We are racing from one speculation to
another.Sonny may not have known
anything.He did not have our
hindsight.It's here.The answer is here somewhere."

Jesse looked to the stack of
date-arranged photographs."They
start with a photo of Cameron in January and end in April in Hong Kong.We have a good picture of what
happened.Brujah all over the world
met at centralized locations.They
worked out plans to assassinate Princes and take over cities."

"I wonder if they did," Daedalus
murmured."There have been no
assassinations outside North America.None in Europe.None in
Africa.None in Asia or anywhere
else.Only North America."

"Yet."

"The element of surprise is
gone.There will be no more
assassinations.Julian was the
first of only a few, and although there have been takeovers, the killings have
ceased."Daedalus returned to
Sonny's notebook, flipping the narrow pages, running his long nail down the
entries.Still reading, he said,
"What I find to be most interesting is not so much the contents of Sonny's
notes, but what is missing."

"I don't understand."

Daedalus gestured toward the
photos."Please retrieve the
photographs for January 28, March 3, and April 30."He waited until Jesse had complied then
asked, "What do you have?"

Jesse replied, "Three photos of
the Las Vegas Brujah Primogen in LA.Three of another man, probably a Brujah Primogen, and two of them both
with yet another man.I don't know
who they are.The reference number
is 41.What did Sonny write in his
notebook?"

Daedalus said, "That is not
important right now.Just keep
their faces in mind," and returned to the notebook."Now retrieve photographs for January
26, March 10, and April 28.Tell me
what they are."

"They're all of the same
people.The exact same people that
we just looked at."

Daedalus nodded."In LA."

"Yes.Once again -- LA."

"Now grab all the photographs for
April 18."

"All from Paris."

"April 30."

"All from Hong Kong.Daedalus, do you see a pattern?"

"No, I see panic."

"Panic?"

Daedalus and Jesse then separated
the photographs into these batches of meetings until eight photos remained
unassigned.The two men stared at
the face of the one man in all eight -- Cameron.There was Cameron in and stepping out of
The Haven.There was Cameron
meeting Cyrus in Santa Monica in January.There was Cameron surrounded by his Brujah.And there were several of Cameron with
his arm around Lillie.There was an
angry red circle marked around Lillie in all of them.

After a long pause, Jesse
remarked, "Cameron didn't go to any of these meetings."

"I am beginning to suspect that
the meetings were about Cameron."

"What's the last entry in Sonny's
notebook?"

After a moment, Daedalus had the
answer."May 28."

"That's the day before…"Jesse faltered."Before…"

"More importantly, though --
listen to what Sonny wrote:'The
Toreador witch has entwined Julian once again.There are no Eddies now.There are no Assamites, but there is
Cameron.'"

Daedalus slammed the notebook
shut."Oh my!"

"What?"

"Sonny's work goes back to
something else -- to Lillie and Julian.Sonny -- he was watching Lillie!He never trusted her after Eddie and the Assamite.Sonny must have been thinking that
Lillie could turn on Julian with Cameron just like she turned on him with
Eddie.She was his initial
target.Then came Cameron.But Sonny uncovered something he
couldn't imagine possible.Sonny
knew the Brujah were planning something.He told Julian, and he tried to tie in Lillie."Daedalus sank back in his chair."The one night that Julian would not
take the time to convince Sonny otherwise, to listen, to assess all this
information -- that was the night Sonny presented all this information on
him."He turned to Jesse."It was very bad timing.Julian had purchased a new club for
Lillie, one he wanted to own himself.It was a New Orleans jazz club.It was a surprise, and he was to present her with the news that
night.He was so pleased with the
acquisition."

"So he put Sonny off and they
argued."

"I suspect so, and I imagine
Julian thought he would have 'tomorrow' to go over what Sonny presented, after
his anger subsided."Daedalus then
turned his attention to the array of photographs splayed out over the two
tables."It is a good assumption
that Sonny and Julian argued over the photographs and that Sonny tried to link
Lillie to Cameron."

"But it all seems to really start
with Cyrus.It seems that he called
many meetings.Cameron met with him
only once and only privately."Jesse looked hard at Daedalus."They argued and never met again."

"Everywhere else, the Brujah
congregated once, hardly long or organized enough to plot a wave of
assassinations."

"What were they doing?"

"I don't know.I suspect it was not plotting
death.I do suspect, however, that
they started out planning to renegotiate various Princehoods.Cyrus is a negotiator; he can actually
compromise, but he failed with Eddie, and he seems to have failed with Cameron
as well.What are all the Brujah in
all these meetings?I suspect that
they are trying to avoid the hostilities that Cameron eventually
unleashed."

"Something went wrong."

"Cameron went wrong.And Cyrus feared him."

"What do we do about it?"

"Wait."

"Wait?We need to confront Cameron with
this?"

"With what?Photographs taken under questionable and
dishonorable circumstances?"Daedalus paused.He lowered
his head.After a moment, he spoke
once again, his voice low and muted."To mention these photographs would be to tarnish Julian's legacy.There will be a tendency to associate
him with them.No one can know what
Sonny has done.No one."

Jesse responded, his voice almost
a hush."I understand.But what do we do with them?"

"Destroy them."

A silence fell over the room, and
Daedalus was grateful that Jesse didn't question him.The slightest objection would tempt him
to preserve Sonny's work."Take it
all to the fireplace," he finally ordered."Burn it until even the ash is ash."

The two men locked gazes.An understanding passed between
them.Cameron was going to
pay.

#

By the time the police arrived
armed with a search warrant, Julian's home looked like the mansion of a missing
wealthy industrialist.Daedalus
found sanctuary in Camilla's haven, and he found himself enjoying his time with
her.

Her underground chambers were very
much like Daedalus' with the scent of everything ancient, with a low glow that
gave comfort but very little light.Lighting a cigarette, he sank back into a large overstuffed chair.Camilla sat across from him in a plain
wooden rocker.Her feet planted on
the floor, her hands draped over the rocker arms, she moved back and forth in a
slow lazy rhythm.

"They will be finished rummaging
around soon," she remarked, "and eventually they will forget Julian Luna."

With a long jetted exhale of
smoke, Daedalus responded, "Not if Caitlin Byrne keeps publishing those
speculations of hers."

"Reading human newspapers is not
something I would endeavor to do."

"Nor I, except that Jesse brings
them to me of late."

Camilla smiled."The baby walked last night."

Daedalus smiled back."How quickly you can change the
subject.You've grown very attached
to this human child."

"Children come from Nature.It is up to all of Nature's beings to
care for the young, even Kindred."

"Did he know you again?"

She beamed."He did.He walked to his window, but is far too
tiny to reach the sill.One day, he
will know me as his imaginary friend."

"And what of Caitlin?"

"A sadness has come over
her."

"Julian."

"I suppose."

"It will pass."

"As it should."She then stopped rocking."And what of you, Daedalus?"

"I have my thoughts to concern
me."

"Is it true that Cameron is close
to Princehood?"

"That depends on if you are
Brujah."

"He must not be Prince."

"Since when do you take an
interest?"

"Since Cameron seeks it."

Daedalus couldn't help another
smile."You have never shown such
interest."

"Cameron is not worthy.He slew Julian.I had no argument with Julian even
though he slew Goth.Goth had gone
mad with his compulsion to bring back the barbarity and old ways.Julian had no choice but to take him
into combat and kill him.But
Julian's death at Cameron's hands was despicable.Cameron is insane with vengeance over
some perceived wrong done him."

"I think he is quite sane."

"Do you?"

"Cameron is loyal to his clan, and
he is cold, he is calculating, he is cruel.He is not, however, insane, and you are
right -- he should not be Prince."

"What are you to do?"

"I don't know."

"Can I help?"

"I don't know that either."Daedalus then lurched forward."No.There is something you can do.In fact, only you can do it."He let her dwell on that comment before
continuing."When the time comes,
Cameron will destroy anything that Julian has touched, including the human
Caitlin."

Camilla nodded."I will protect her."

"That is what you must do."

"When?"

"Soon, I imagine.Cameron has already demonstrated he
lacks patience and restraint."

When a long pause thickened the
room, Camilla stated, "There is something else."